Mr. Vanden Bergh

Mar. 2-6 Language Arts

       We are in the middle of our Renaissance research this week.  The best way to help yourself this week is to come to every class with the following:  Renaissance packet, note cards, source cards, and as many print-outs with information and citations as possible.  I've posted the list of important dates again along with proper format of source and note cards below:

Download The Renaissance Project Dates 2009

Download Source Cards

Download Notecard Personal Background

Download Notecard Accomplishments

Download Notecard - Impact on Society

MON.  Review for Tuesday's Research Process Test  HW: Get information about your Renaissance figure.  Include the citation for each source.  Need more review to prepare for tomorrow's test?  Try this:  Download Research Process SG

TUE.   Research Process Test HW: Get information about your Renaissance figure.  Include the citation for each source.

WED.  Go over requirements for Renaissance poster (DUE NEXT WEDNESDAY),  See examples of Renaissance costumes (THERE IS NO NEED TO PURCHASE A COSTUME),Work on note cards (IF you are finished with note cards, begin your draft in class).  HW: bring print-outs with citations if necessary

THU.  Work on note cards with book cart or print outs from home (IF you are finished with note cards, begin draft in class).  You must have a citation with your print outs. HW: Complete note cards and source cards.  Although 15 note cards and 5 source cards is the minimum requirement, I would recommend 20-25 notecards and 5 or more source cards in order to write a solid research paper.

FRI.   SOURCE/NOTE CARDS DUE!!! (minimum of 5 source and 15 note cards)   Paraphasing VS. Plagiarism.  Begin work on draft of research paper.  HW: Complete personal background if necessary

Mar. 2-6 Reading Assignments

         We've reached our final destination in The Hobbit and now will be turning back for the long road home.  Make sure you have your Hobbit book with you this week.  You will be returning it to me on Wednesday.   We will also be completing our study of Lesson #12 Vocabulary with our test on Monday.  Here's this week's plan:

MON       Test on Lesson #12 Vocabulary/Spelling

TUE        Read Ch #18 and 19 in The Hobbit.  HW: make sure you have completed the novel by Wednesday morning, so you will be prepared for Wednesday's test on the novel.

WED       Novel test - The Hobbit,  Return novels

THU       The Hobbit movie

FRI         Continue The Hobbit movie

Are you interested in a summer camp for young writers?

Take a look at this great opportunity for anyone interested in improving on your writing skills:

Download Young Writers Camp Letter

Download Don’t Let Your Time to Write Tick Away

Feb. 23-27 Language Arts Assignments

                             

       This week we will continue the Renaissance theme as we begin our early stages of research work.  Each student has been assigned a prominent figure from the Renaissance.  Students may have already gathered some information at home along with the citation for each piece of information.  Cobb Virtual Library is a great resource for information about your person.  Most sites can provide the correct citation for you by clicking on the citation button at the top.  It is imperative that students keep up with each stage of the research process as we go.  Here's the schedule:

MON.    Receive RENAISSANCE PACKETS in class.  This is a VERY IMPORTANT PACKET that cannot be lost!   You will need your 4 x 6 note cards today. Inside the packet you will find lots of notes and information regarding the research paper, poster, and pertinent Renaissance information.   We will review elements of the packet.  HW: Bring 4 x 6 notecards tomorrow

TUES.  Continue review of the RENAISSANCE PACKET and format notecards and source cards. HW:  BRING INFORMATION FROM HOME ALONG WITH CITATION TO CLASS TOMORROW - The more the information the better!  Make sure you have formated a minimum of 15 note cards and 5 source cards.  FORMATTING DOES NOT MEAN TO TAKE NOTES ON THE CARDS, simply put the required information on the card so it is ready for the notes. 

REVIEW ON HOW TO FILL OUT NOTECARDS:   Download Notecard information

WED.   Our Renaissance book cart arrives in our classroom!  Choose the appropriate book from the cart to help your research.  Begin recording information on source/notecards.  If you are absent today, please go to your local library and check out a book about your Renaissance person.  Remember that one of the five sources you will have must be a book!  Please follow guidelines on proper notecard use.  View a sample of each type here:

Download Source Card Example

Download Notecard Personal Background

Download Notecard Accomplishments

Download Notecard - Impact on Society 

HW: bring notecards to class tomorrow.  You may also want a flash drive tomorrow.

THUR.  COMPUTER LAB DAY #1 research - Please come prepared with your notecards.  We will go over proper researching techniques for the internet in class.   HW: none

FRI.  COMPUTER LAB DAY #2 research - Please come prepared with your notecards.  This will be the last class period reserved for researching your famous figure.  By Monday, you should have a minimum of 15 notecards and 5 source cards(bib cards) filled out with your notes HW: If you have researched everything possible in Cobb Virtual Library, you might want to try this website for great information about your Renaissance figure: http://www.kidsclick.org/

Feb. 23-27 Reading Assignments

      We are nearing the end of our journey with the Hobbit this week.  We will be completing two more journal entries and then turning in our journals for the final time.  Please be sure that your journal is updated and completed through chapter 15.  We will finish this week with a focus on Lesson #12 Vocabulary and Spelling.  Please be sure to bring your novel and vocabulary workbook all week.  Here's the tentative plan:

MON     Read Ch #14 in The Hobbit ("Fire & Water").  Complete response and activity for Ch #14 Download Hobbit Journal Ch #14  HW: complete journal if necessary

TUE      Read Ch #15 in The Hobbit ("The Gathering of the Clouds").  Complete response and activity for Ch#15 Download Hobbit Journal Ch #15  HW: complete journal if necessary

WED     Lesson #12 Word Boxes - You will need your vocabulary book for this  HW: complete Word Boxes if necessary

THU      Lesson #12 Skits - Create and Perform  HW: bring silent reading book

FRI      SILENT READING - We will begin by reading Ch #16 "A Thief in the Night" in class. HW: Study for Lesson #12 Vocabulary Test Monday!!

Feb. 17-20 Language Arts Assignments

      We are continuing our study of the Renaissance this week with a look at Shakespeare's famous play Macbeth.  Our actual research will begin next week.  You will need to bring 4x6 notecards by next Monday (2/23).  Please take note of our upcoming schedule for the Renaissance research paper and poster.  It is critical that you keep up with the work that is assigned to ensure that you will finish these major assignments by their due dates.  The dates should be marked in your agenda. 

Upcoming Important Dates:  Download The Renaissance Project Dates 2009

Sign up for famous Renaissance figures: Download Renaissance Sign-up 2009

Here's our schedule for this week:

MON   No School - Presidents' Day!

TUES   Background information on Shakespeare's Macbeth, Read/Perform MacBeth HW: You will need to get 4x6 note cards by Monday 2/23

WED   Continue reading/performing MacBeth, Complete the MacBeth response sheet  HW: Complete Macbeth response sheet

THUR.    Perform the 32-second MacBeth in groups. HW: none

FRI.  Complete Free-write("Into the Future"). This should be in the writing section of your binder. HW: Be sure to come to class on Monday with your blank 4x6 notecards.  Do not put any notes on the cards yet.  Also, if you have been doing research, don't forget that Cobb Virtual Library is a great resource.  Most sites can create a citation for you by clicking on the citation button at the top of the page.  We will official start our research as a class next Wednesday.

Feb. 17-20 Reading Assignments

         We are drawing ever closer to a meeting with Smaug in The Hobbit this week.  We will also conclude our study of Lesson #11 Vocabulary/Spelling.  Students will have an opportunity to update their reading totals this week.  Please be sure to have a parent or teacher signature for each book that is to be added.  Here's our plan for the week:

MON.    No School - Presidents' Day!

TUES.   Lesson #11 Vocabulary/Spelling Test  HW: Complete Lesson #12 Flash Cards

WED.   Begin reading Ch #12 "Inside Information" in The Hobbit  HW: Study L#12 Flash Cards

THU.   Continue reading Ch #12 in The Hobbit, Complete Ch #12 Response/Activity Download Hobbit Journal Ch #12

FRI.     Read Ch #13 "Not at Home" in The Hobbit  HW: Ch #13 Response/Activity  Download Hobbit Journal Ch #13

Want to get a head start on your research?

 Sign-up sheet: Download Renaissance Sign-up 2009

Researching tips: Download Early research

Creating citations using Bibme:  Download BIBME 

Feb. 9-12 Language Arts Assignments

         We will continue to explore the Renaissance through Shakespeare's play Romeo and Juliet.  PLEASE take advantage of the Renaissance Hypermedia site over the coming weeks.  It is located in the Renaissance category on the left of the weblog.  Students should have already visited the site and chosen their top three favorite famous Renaissance figures.  One will be assigned to each student this week. 

         We will begin the research process next week, but students will begin searching for information about their person throughout the next 2 weeks.  Remember, any information printed out must be cited.  Feel free to use http://www.bibme.org/ to get correct citation for a book or web source and print it out along with your information.

MON.    Turn in top three choices for famous Renaissance figures.  You will receive the name of the person you will be researching.  Begin reading/performing Shakespeare's play "ROMEO & JULIET" 

TUES.   Continue reading/performing "ROMEO & JULIET" 

WED.  View West Side Story  During the movie you will be asked to make comparisons on a sheet provided in class.  Download west_side_storyromeo_comparison.doc

THUR.  Continue viewing West Side Story , continue comparison sheet HW: If you are one of the 37 students that has one or more missing language arts assignments, be informed that it is YOUR RESPONSIBILITY AS A STUDENT to see your teacher for make-up work, whether you were absent or simply didn't turn in an assignment.  You will need to find out what work is missing. If you need a missing assignment, you see the teacher at the end of class. You complete the work by Monday.  Any missing work not turned in by you Monday will receive a zero with no opportunity for make up. 

FRI.     Complete West Side Story, Comparison sheet due   

Feb. 9-13 Reading Assignments

      We are half way on our journey with Bilbo Baggins.  This week we will be dedicating a portion of the assignments to our novel and a portion to Lesson #11 Vocabulary.  Be sure to complete all journal entries for The Hobbit Ch#6-10.  You will also need to bring your vocabulary book Tuesday through Thursday.  Here's the plan:

MON.      Read Ch #10 in The Hobbit.  Complete journal response and activity for Ch #10  Download Hobbit Journal Ch #10 HW: Journal entries for Ch# 6-10 are due tomorrow.  HW: complete all journal entries for Ch#6-10 if necessary

TUE.      Turn in Journal.  Computer lab vocabulary activity

WED.     Lesson #11 Skits

THU.      Continue computer lab vocabulary activity

FRI.       Read Ch #12 in the Hobbit, Silent Reading, Update book total for this nine weeks.  HW: Study Lesson #11 Vocabulary for test on Tuesday!